The Senate rejected a McConnell, R-Ky. cloture motion to end debate on the energy policy bill that would streamline permitting for gas exports, boost energy-efficiency standards for commercial and federal buildings, permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund and require grid infrastructure upgrades for reliability and security.

The measure makes changes to various housing laws to try to extend affordable housing options to more low-income families. The measure allows Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) and the owners of private subsidized housing to verify the income-based eligibility of families through other needs-tested federal programs; changes requirements regarding the inspection of housing units and eases Federal Housing Authority (FHA) requirements for mortgage insurance for condominiums.

The House voted to attempt to override President Barack Obama’s veto of legislation that would have repealed or significantly modified numerous major provisions of the 2010 health care overhaul law. Two-thirds of those members present and voting yes were needed to override the veto.

Rep. Louise Slaughter voted NO

Iran Sanctions – Passage – Vote Passed (246-181, 6 Not Voting)

The bill restricts the president’s ability to lift sanctions on Iranian and other financial institutions as called for by the Iran Nuclear agreement, by allowing sanctions to be lifted only if the president certifies that the institutions have not knowingly helped fund Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards, foreign terrorist organizations and other entities sanctioned in connection with Iran’s weapons of mass destruction or ballistic missile programs.

The bill requires the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to conduct reviews of its existing regulations to determine whether any are outmoded, ineffective or excessively burdensome, and to modify or repeal rules based on those reviews.

The legislation prohibits federal banking regulators from requesting that financial institutions terminate their relationships with specific customers or groups of customers unless the agency has a material reason for requesting that termination, and it modifies the 1989 Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act to restrict the conditions under which the Justice Department may conduct investigations involving financial institutions and seek civil penalties, including by limiting the department’s subpoena authority.

Rep. Louise Slaughter voted NO

Upcoming VotesEnergy Policy – S2012

The bill would streamline permitting for gas exports, boost energy-efficiency standards for commercial and federal buildings, permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund and require grid infrastructure upgrades for reliability and security.

North Korea Sanctions – HR757

The legislation would require mandatory sanctions on individuals that sell or buy North Korean minerals, including coal and steel. It also would require the blacklisting of any individual complicit in North Korea’s nuclear and missile development and other illegal activities such as human rights abuses.

Limit on National Science Foundation Grants – HR3293

The bill would allow the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award grants or enter into cooperative agreements for basic research and science education only if it determines that the grant or cooperative agreement promotes the progress of science in the United States and is consistent with the NSF’s mission.

Debt Reduction Plans – HR3442

The measure would require the Treasury secretary to appear before Congress within a couple of months before the federal government is projected to reach the legal debt limit and report on the state of the nation’s public debt and the drivers of increasing debt, the impact of increasing debt and the administration’s plans for reducing debt in the short, medium and long terms.

Menu Nutrition Disclosures – HR2017

The bill would require the Food and Drug Administration to modify its rules regarding the nutrition information that restaurants and other retail food establishments must provide to customers.